Biden in India for Strategic Talks

Jul. 22, 2013 - 01:25PM
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NEW DELHI — US Vice President Joe Biden is holding strategic talks with Indian officials during his visit here July 22 to 25.

US Secretary of State John Kerry was in New Delhi last month to co-chair the India-US Strategic Dialogue, a joint forum established in 2009 where India and the United States discuss cooperation on bilateral and regional issues.

During his talks with Indian leaders here July 23, including with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Biden is expected to focus on the future of Afghanistan after the US-led international forces begin to leave in 2014. In addition, Biden will discuss the US-India civil nuclear deal, signed in 2008 but awaiting implementation because of sticky issues relating to a liability clause that US companies find difficult to implement, fearing possible lawsuits.

Regarding defense ties, India and the United States have so far not finalized any joint high-tech defense projects, and MoD sources said that defense ties are likely to continue only on the basis of government-to-government defense sales.

Bidenís trip will also lay groundwork for the visit of Singh to the United States in September-October, said an official of the Indian Foreign Ministry.